MSNBC host Al Sharpton accused President Donald Trump of targeting cities led by black mayors with National Guard deployment threats, calling the move racially charged. Appearing on Morning Joe Monday, Sharpton argued the president’s threats are politically motivated and racially selective.
Speaking after delivering a sermon at Howard University, Sharpton claimed communities in cities like Washington, D.C., feel “under siege.” He pointed out that several cities mentioned by Trump—such as Chicago, Oakland, and Washington—all have black mayors and, according to Sharpton, declining crime rates.
“There’s a racial element that he’s race dog whistling here,” Sharpton said. He further claimed Trump wouldn’t apply the same measures to Republican-led states. “He would not dare do that to his red state senators,” Sharpton said.
Sharpton criticized Trump for not engaging in dialogue with mayors like Muriel Bowser of D.C., stating that instead of problem-solving, Trump is creating the perception that minority-led cities are incapable of governance. “That is why this is bad for everyone,” Sharpton added.
He described how, after his sermon, he toured parts of Washington where crime has declined, contrasting it with the visible National Guard presence in upscale areas like Georgetown. According to Sharpton, this reinforces public unease and deters normal activities such as dining and shopping.
Sharpton concluded by suggesting Trump’s broader strategy is to single out cities with Democratic and black leadership. “Now any city with a Democrat and a black mayor is at risk,” he warned. “That’s no way to run the country.”
